I'm going to stick to my assessment of Tony Allen in Memphis vs. Tony Allen in Boston. Part of the reason he's working in Memphis is he's playing a different role. He's actually a team leader, he's a bigger part of the entire team, and he's playing more minutes. In short… TA feels more comfortable in Memphis.

"I'm more vocal," Allen said of his leadership role with Memphis. "As if I was Kevin (Garnett) or Paul (Pierce). They were the most vocal guys (in Boston). I kind of just looked at what they were doing. They were the realist. If something was going wrong in a game, they'd speak on it and they don't let it get out of hand. That's pretty much what I do with our guys."

Said Ainge: "I don't think Tony always liked his role here in Boston. I don't think we understand how hard it is playing behind Ray and Paul, because they're so good."

Exactly. In Boston, he would have played a much lesser role. He'd still have to defer to most of the roster. Would he have helped some? Yes, of course, because he's young and athletic and he could get out there and run a little. But I've seen too much of Tony Allen in Boston to bet on him being any sort of savior. I know "Bad" Tony Allen all too well. We saw a lot more of him than the "Good" Tony Allen around here. I'm not going to go all revisionist-history on everyone and pretend that Bad TA wouldn't have made plenty of appearances if Danny brought him back.

I wish there was a way to find out what he would have done here… because I'll guarantee you Danny would be taking plenty of heat for bringing him back as well.

Since the advent of the Big Three, the Celtics haven’t had salary-cap space to attract premium players. But after next season when Garnett, Allen, and Jermaine O’Neal — who will make a combined $37 million in 2011-12 — come off the books, the Celtics will have an opportunity to pursue their first major free agent in a generation.

Rivers will be waiting on that tour stop with his winning smile, recruiter’s pitch, and secure status. And that may be the biggest selling point of all.

The rebuilding of the Celtics in the post-Big Three era won’t be easy, but Ainge’s job just became more manageable and the possibility of the playoff-caliber Celtics without Pierce, Allen, and Garnett just became more feasible.

And two days after the Celtics’ disheartening elimination by the Miami Heat, the road back to prominence just became smoother.

Boston's reputation is what it is. I'll fight tooth-and-nail to defend it against the realities of the past… but some people just won't listen.

So if Black players who hear "Boston" and think "racism" ultimately decide to come here because Doc Rivers has 100% bought into the system, the team, and the city… then great.

I don't want to get into a big thing about race relations in Boston. That's a bigger issue for another day. I know it's still an issue for some players, though. Right or wrong, it's still an issue. I hope, though, that Gary Washburn is right. I hope players look at this situation and say "oh, that's just some BS people are talking… I love Doc so I'm gonna play for him."

I don't think that's what Danny had in mind when he signed Doc. I think Doc's a great coach who deserves the deal he got on that alone. This other stuff… an interesting and welcome side effect.

What unbelievable Rot. He’s spitting in our faces, apologizing for Allen, but not for The Trade.

http://profile.typepad.com/stevenblevins Steven Blevins

Let’s face it, the celts lost because the big 4 were overtaxed with minutes played on account of the bench..bbd mainly hurting the team rather than helping. Aside from howard, ta is the best defensive player in the nba. He deserves to start, and had he been on the celts in this playoff run he would’ve started some games..he has the athleticism too and maybe that’s what da is referring to when he says its possible not all the big 4 will be starting next year
He shouldn’t have nickled and dimed ta and should’ve gave him more playing time..perhaps alternating the starting..DA is not gonna get great athletic talent without giving them a major role and at this stagehe probably should have like RA not starting..and have PP and TA starting forwards and tried kg at center. U want talent? You have to play them.

http://profile.typepad.com/stevenblevins Steven Blevins

the timing of the perk trade killed them, but TA is more athletic, a better scorer, and has more value in the long run than perk.. yeah perk was a tough presence in the paint and was terrific with screens, but we can’t forget the liability he gave us too with only being able to score in the paint, anf fouls including techs.

http://profile.typepad.com/stevenblevins Steven Blevins

the timing of the perk trade killed them, but TA is more athletic, a better scorer, and has more value in the long run than perk.. yeah perk was a tough presence in the paint and was terrific with screens, but we can’t forget the liability he gave us too with only being able to score in the paint, and fouls including techs.

http://profile.typepad.com/rtcoaster Shawncvd

Your last sentence makes sense but this team does not start TA. BTW TA is starting with Memphis only because Gay is injured. There’s no championship contending team that starts TA. You think the Celtic’s half court offense sputters with Perk and Rondo out there? At least Perk would carve up space and set a few picks.
When valuing TA you could only rate him on his body of work as a C. Gritty athletic defender with no jumper who dribbles the ball off his foot and has an occasional brain-fart. All this said 9 million over three years seemed fair and Ainge should have bit on that. If Rondo had a dependable jumper TA would be more valuable to Boston due to his weaknesses could have been better hidden.

http://profile.typepad.com/stevenblevins Steven Blevins

I hear ya shawn..I was meaning before they traded him..that’s what they should’ve considered..in the playoffs, rondo was pretty consistent hittin his jumpers..they both are still developing still..rondo and ta..I just wish they still had him.. wish they still had perk too..hopefully some decent grabs happen this offseason..but they need talent or someone who shows they’ll develop talent for the future..they need good and young for when the big 3 go off into the sunset..and that’s what hurts the most with seeing perk and ta gone